Common-place Book: n. a book in which common-places, or notable or striking passages are noted; a book in which things especially to be remembered or referred to are recorded.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Small Steps
Very gradually and without much publicity, the Russian government has begun to replace the red stars that top the towers of the Kremlin and neighboring buildings with the double-headed eagles of old.
I know that the Holy Roman Empire had a single headed eagle as its symbol, as does modern Germany. But I really don't see either as an offshoot of Byzantium.
The correct answer is (was): the Empire of Trebizon (1204-1461.) The single-headed eagle was the symbol of the Grand Comneni of Trebizond, after the fall of Constantinople in 1204. There is still a single-headed eagle above the portico of the exo-narthex of the Haghia Sophia in Trabzon.
7 comments:
I don't know if should I like that any better.
Now if they will just get rid of that pickled cadaver in that goofy pyramid on Red Square....
Milton,
I'm with you on that one!
I am all for the double-headed eagle, and all the Byzantine symbolism and history behind it.
Here's a trivia question: Does anyone know which Byzantine offshot had a single-headed eagle as its symbol?
Albania?
I know that the Holy Roman Empire had a single headed eagle as its symbol, as does modern Germany. But I really don't see either as an offshoot of Byzantium.
Oh, that is great!! Seriously, how cool! I, too, am all for the change in symbolism.
And Albania is double-headed. Might you be referring to Romania?
The correct answer is (was): the Empire of Trebizon (1204-1461.) The single-headed eagle was the symbol of the Grand Comneni of Trebizond, after the fall of Constantinople in 1204. There is still a single-headed eagle above the portico of the exo-narthex of the Haghia Sophia in Trabzon.
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